A Hook and Eye Fastener

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a hook and eye fastener ( 1, 101, 201 ) for securing two straps ( 15, 27 ) of an item of clothing such as a brassiere together. The hook part ( 3, 103, 203 ) is a substantially flat body ( 7 ) mounted on the face of one strap ( 15 ) and the eye part ( 5, 105, 205 ) is a substantially flat frame ( 21 ) mounted on the face of the other strap ( 27 ). The hook part comprises an arm ( 9 ) extending outwardly therefrom and the frame defines an open mouth ( 23 ) dimensioned to receive the arm of the hook part. The hook part and the eye part are configured to provide a fastener having a thickness of between 4 mm and 5 mm in total and that is relatively simple to engage and positively disengage.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a fastener for a garment and more specificallyto a fastener for items of lingerie such as a brassiere.

BACKGROUND ART

Although there are many types of fasteners for brassieres perhaps themost commonly used is the hook and eye fastener where one or more hooksengage in complementary eyes to secure the straps of the brassiere in aclosed configuration around the wearer's torso. However, as brassiereswith such fasteners typically fasten behind the wearer's back, it canprove relatively difficult for the wearer to line up and engage thehooks with the corresponding eyes. They can also prove difficult tofasten for wearers who are elderly or suffering from conditions such asarthritis that affect the dexterity or mobility of the wearer.Additionally, a number of rows of eyes can be provided according to thesize of the garment, the amount of support required or to allow thebrassiere to be adjusted to the size of the wearer and this can make itincreasingly difficult for the wearer to correctly engage the hooks withthe corresponding eyes.

Another significant problem with the known hook and eye fasteners isthat they tend to protrude noticeably from the wearer's body and can bevisible through an outer garment causing an unsightly appearance,particularly if the hooks and eyes have not been aligned correctly.Typically, the known hook and eye fasteners when closed have a thicknessof the order of between 0.005 m (5.0 mm) and 0.0065 m (6.5 mm) whichmakes them clearly noticeable beneath many garments. Furthermore, hookand eye fasteners can make the straps of the brassiere quite rigid,causing irritation by rubbing against the skin and discomfort for thewearer.

Typically hook and eye fasteners comprise metal hooks and eyes however anumber of alternative hook and eye fasteners are also known. One suchalternative hook and eye fastener is that described in the applicant'sown U.S. Pat. No. 8,230,559. Advantageously, the hook and eye fastenerdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,230,559 is relatively easy to fasten andovercomes many of the problems with the known hook and eye fasteners inthat regard however the fastener is not substantially thinner than thealternative arrangements of hook and eye fasteners and may be noticeablebeneath many garments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener thatovercomes at least some of the above-identified problems and provides auseful choice to the consumer.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a hook and eye fastener forsecuring two pieces of a garment together, the hook part being mountedon a face of one of the pieces and the eye part being mounted on a faceof the other of the pieces, in which:

-   -   the hook part comprising a substantially planar body laid flat        on the face of the piece and having an arm extending outwardly        therefrom, the arm comprising an inner portion connected at one        end to the body and extending outwardly substantially        perpendicular to the body and an outer portion connected to the        other end of the inner portion and extending substantially        parallel to the planar body, the side of the outer portion        facing the planar body defining an abutment surface; and    -   the eye part comprising a substantially planar frame laid flat        on the face of the other of the pieces; the frame defining an        open mouth dimensioned to receive the outer portion of the hook        arm and having a complementary abutment surface on the underside        of the frame for engagement of the abutment surface of the hook,        and, with the faces closely juxtaposed, slidably engageable in a        direction parallel to the faces with the hook to fasten the two        pieces of the garment together.

By having such a fastener, the fastener will have a thinner profile thanthe previously known fasteners. The fastener according to the inventionwill have a closed thickness of the order of between 4.0 mm and 5.0 mmand therefore will be less noticeable under many garments. This is asubstantial improvement on many of the existing fasteners.Advantageously, the fastener will be relatively simple to fasten as theouter portion and the open mouth are dimensioned to promote engagementbetween the hook and the eye into an intermediate finder position beforethe hook and eye are secured together.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which there is provided a boss on one of the abutmentsurfaces and a complementary dimple on the other of the abutmentsurfaces. The boss and dimple will co-operate with each other to moresecurely fasten the hook and eye parts together and prevent inadvertentrelease of the fastener. These are relatively simple to manufacture andcan be moulded into the hook and eye components.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the boss is mounted on the abutment surface of thehook part.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the outer portion is chevron shaped. This is seen as aparticularly preferred embodiment of the present invention as thechevron shape will help guide the hook into a central location in theeye, ensuring correct alignment and engagement of the hook and eye.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the complementary abutment surface on the underside ofthe frame for engagement of the abutment surface of the hook part ischevron-shaped. Again, this will promote correct location of the hook inthe eye and a secure engagement therebetween.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the open mouth is pentagonally shaped. By having apentagonally shaped open mouth, the outer portion of the hook will beable to slot into the open mouth with ease.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the hook part and eye part each comprise a magnet forlocation of the hook part outer portion in the open mouth of the eyepart. This is seen as advantageous as the magnets will further simplifythe engagement of the hook and eye into the finder position therebysimplifying the closure of the fastener. Alternatively, one of the hookpart and the eye part is provided with a magnet and the other of thehook part and the eye part is provided with a ferromagnetic member.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the magnet on the hook part is located on the bodyrearward of the arm and the magnet on the eye part is located in theframe rearward and remote from the abutment surface. By placing themagnets in these areas, the dimensions of the hook and eye can be keptrelatively narrow to ensure that the overall thickness of the fasteneris not increased. Furthermore, a ferromagnetic member may be providedinstead of one of the magnets to good effect.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which there are provided a plurality of eye parts mounted ina row along the piece of garment.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the piece of the garment comprises a pair of sheets offabric and the eye part is sandwiched between the pair of sheets offabric. Preferably, the fabric sheet positioned above the eye part willbe clear of the open mouth thereby permitting insertion of portion ofthe hook part therethrough.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which a pocket is formed between the abutment surface on theunderside of the frame and the face of the piece on which it is mounted.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which there is provided only one hook. This is advantageousas it will facilitate the closure of the fastener about the wearer. Thisis made possible in part due to the structural integrity of theconfiguration of hook.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the eye further comprises an upstanding lip adjacentthe complementary abutment surface. By having such an upstanding lip,the lip will further facilitate location of the hook portion in the eyeportion. Preferably, the upstanding lip will protrude of the order of0.001 m (1 mm) upwardly from the surface of the substantially planarframe.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which at least one of the pieces is elasticated.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the fastener has a maximum thickness of less than0.0055 m (5.5 mm).

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the fastener has a maximum thickness of less than0.005 m (5.0 mm).

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the inner portion of the hook part has at least onerib extending upwardly from the body to the outer portion along a rearface of the inner portion. Preferably, there are a plurality of spacedapart ribs along the rear face of the inner portion.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the maximum width of the open mouth of the eye part isno less than 1.5 times the maximum width of the outer portion of thehook part.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hook and eyefastener in which the fastener has a maximum tensile strength of greaterthan or equal to 11.36 kgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more clearly understood from the followingdescription of some embodiments thereof given by way of example onlywith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

FIG. 1 is a rear view of one embodiment of an eye part of a fasteneraccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a hook part of a fastener according to theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the hook part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hook part and another embodimentof an eye part of the fastener according to the invention in a findingposition prior to full engagement;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the hook part without a piece connectedthereto;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the hook part of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a left hand side view of the hook part of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hook part of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the eye part without a piece connectedthereto;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the eye part of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the eye part of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the eye part of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the eye part along the linesXIII-XIII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the eye part of FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is a rear view of an alternative construction of an eye part ofa fastener according to the invention;

FIG. 16 is a rear view of an alternative construction of hook part of afastener according to the invention for engagement of the eye part ofFIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a front view of the hook part of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the hook part and eye part of FIGS.15 to 17 in a finding position prior to full engagement;

FIG. 19 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of hook partaccording to the invention without a piece connected thereto;

FIG. 20 is a rear view of the hook part of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a left hand side view of the hook part of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of the hook part along the linesXXII-XXII of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a rear view of an alternative configuration of eye part of afastener according to the invention;

FIG. 24 is a side view of the eye part of FIG. 23; and

FIG. 25 is a cross sectional view of the eye part along the linesXXV-XXV of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 14 inclusive, there is shown a hook and eyefastener, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, comprising ahook part 3 and an eye part 5. Typically, the eye part will be mountedclosest to the body of the wearer and the hook part will be mountedfurther from the body of the wearer. Furthermore, the fastener willtypically be located to one side or more usually to the rear of thewearer's torso. Therefore, throughout this specification the exampleshave been described in terms where the fastener is located at the backof a wearer with the eye part located adjacent the wearer's body and thehook part rearward of the eye part. It will be understood that front,back, forward and rearward and equivalent terms have been used with suchan embodiment in mind. However, this embodiment is not limiting andindeed the fastener could be at the wearer's side or front of theirtorso and indeed the hook part could be mounted closest to the wearer'sskin in which case the terms front, back, forwards, rearwards will bealtered accordingly.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 to 8 inclusive, the hook part 3comprises a substantially flat body 7 having an arm 9 extendingoutwardly therefrom. The arm comprises an inner portion 11 and an outerportion 13. The inner portion 11 is connected at one end to the planarbody 7 and extends outwardly substantially perpendicular to the body andthe outer portion 13 is connected to the other end of the inner portion11 and extends substantially perpendicular to the inner part 11 andparallel to the remainder of the body 7. The side of the outer portion13 facing towards the body 7 forms an abutment surface 14.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 to 4 inclusive, the hook part 3 ismounted flat on one of a pair of pieces 15 of a garment (not shown) tobe secured together. The hook part 3 is laid flat on the face of thepiece 15 and the piece overlaps the hook along the entire length of thehook part 3. The piece 15 in turn comprises a pair of sheets of fabric17, 19 and the hook part 3 is partially sandwiched therebetween. Thehook part 3 is joined to the pair of sheets of fabric by heat welding,pressing, bonding, a combination of the above or other method known inthe art.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 14 inclusive, the eye part 5 comprises asubstantially flat frame 21 defining an open mouth 23. In theembodiments shown, the open mouth 23 is pentagonal shaped and isdimensioned to receive the outer portion 13 of the hook part 3. The flatframe 21 has a complementary abutment surface 25 on the front of theframe 21 for engagement of the abutment surface 14 of the hook part 3.In addition to the foregoing, there is provided an upstanding lip 26adjacent to the abutment surface 25. The upstanding lip acts as an endstop for the hook part when the hook and eye are brought into engagementwith each other to assist location of the hook and eye into the findingposition. In the embodiment shown, the upstanding lip 26 rises upwardlyfrom the sides towards a central peak.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 4, the eye parts 5 are mounted onthe other piece 27 of the garment. The eye parts 5 are laid flat on theface of the piece 27 and the piece overlaps the eye part 5 along theentire length of the eye part 5. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,there are four eye parts 5 mounted on the other piece of the garmenthowever in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 there are only two eye parts 5shown for clarity. It will be understood that more or less eye partscould be provided if desired. The other piece 27 comprises a pair ofsheets 29, 31 and the eye parts 5 are sandwiched between the pair ofsheets 29, 31. The fabric sheet 29 positioned above the eye part will beclear of the open mouth thereby permitting insertion of portion of thehook part therethrough. As mentioned above, a plurality of eye parts 5are provided on the piece 27 shown in FIG. 1. The eye part 5 is joinedto the pair of sheets of fabric by heat welding, pressing, bonding, acombination of the above or other method known in the art. It can beseen from FIG. 4 that the abutment surface 14 of the hook part 3 has aboss 33 and the abutment surface 25 on the front of the frame 21 of theeye part 5 has a complementary dimple 35 for reception of the bosstherein.

In use, in order to engage the fastener parts, the hook part 3 isbrought into juxtaposition with the eye part 5 by moving the hook partand the eye part towards each other in the direction of the nearestarrow A in FIG. 4. As the hook part and the eye part are brought intoengagement, the outer portion 13 of the hook part 3 will pass throughthe open mouth of the eye part 5 until the outer portion is housed in acavity 37 of the eye part. Once in the cavity 37, the hook part is slidin the direction of the arrow B and the eye part is slid in thedirection of the arrow C, i.e. in a direction parallel to the faces ofthe pieces to fasten the two pieces of the garment together. By slidingthe hook part and the eye part in this manner the boss 33 will form afriction fit in the dimple 35 which will be sufficient to preventinadvertent release of the hook part 3 from the eye part 5. In order torelease the hook part 3 from the eye part 5, the hook part is slid inthe direction opposite to arrow B and the eye part 5 is slid in thedirection opposite to arrow C in order to release the boss 33 from thedimple 35 and the hook part 3 and eye part 5 are then separated bymoving them apart against the direction of the nearest arrow A. When thetwo parts 3, 5 of the fastener 1 are joined together, the fastener has amaximum thickness of the order of 0.0047 m (4.7 mm).

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, the outer portion of the hook part 3 maybe chevron shaped or indeed may be pentagonal shaped and the open mouth23 of the eye part 5 is pentagonal shaped. The advantage of this is thatit will be relatively simple to get the outer portion of the hook part 3to engage with the open mouth 23 of the eye part 5.

Furthermore, once the outer portion 13 of the hook part 3 has passedthrough the open mouth and is slid in the direction of the arrow B, thepointed face of the outer part will have a centering effect.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 to 18 inclusive, there is shown an alternativeembodiment of fastener according to the invention, indicated generallyby the reference numeral 101, where like parts have been given the samereference numeral as before. The fastener 101 is similar to theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 14 inclusive with the exception thatthere is provided a magnet 43 in the hook part 103 and a magnet 45 inthe eye part 105. The magnet 43 in the hook part 103 is located rearwardof the inner portion 11 of the arm 9 and the magnet 45 on the eye part105 is located in the frame 21 rearward and remote from the abutmentsurface 25. The magnets 43, 45 are polarized so as to attract each otherwhen brought into proximity with each other. In this way, when the hookpart 103 and the eye part 105 are brought into juxtaposition with eachother, the magnet 45 will attract the magnet 43 and the hook part andthe eye part will be brought into engagement with each other. Themagnets will have an aligning effect in that the magnets will centre thehook part and act to draw the outer portion of the hook part 103 intothe open mouth 23 of the frame.

The force of the magnet when the parts of the fastener 101 are engagedwill be less than the tension force on the brassiere straps and/or thefrictional force of the boss in the dimple. The fastener 101 shown inFIGS. 15 to 18 inclusive will have a maximum thickness that ismarginally thicker than the fastener shown in FIGS. 1 to 14 inclusivedue to the incorporation of the magnets. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 15 to 18, when the two parts 103, 105 of the fastener 1 are joinedtogether the fastener will have a maximum thickness of the order of0.0052 m (5.2 mm).

It will be seen that the magnets 43 and 45 are sealed in pockets (i.e.are waterproof embedded) in their respective parts to prevent rusting.Furthermore, by positioning the magnets in the spaces identified, themagnets 43, 45 can be relatively thin and will not result in a thickerfastener.

Referring now to FIGS. 19 to 25 inclusive, there is shown the hook 203and eye 205 components of an alternative embodiment of fastener 201according to the invention, where like parts have been given the samereference numeral as before. The hook part 203, as illustrated in FIGS.19 to 22 inclusive is provided with a plurality of ribs 51 which extendalong the rear face of the inner portion 11. The ribs may be triangularin cross section. The ribs 51 provide additional rigidity to the hookportion obviating the likelihood of the hooks deflecting under load andthe inadvertent release of the fastener. Furthermore, it can be seenfrom FIG. 19 in particular that the outer portion 13 has a more roundedfront edge 53 than the previous embodiments. The outer portion 13 willpreferably have a width from one side of the rounded edge to the otherside of the rounded edge of the order of between 0.013 m (13 mm) to0.016 m (16 mm) and in the embodiment shown, the outer portion has awidth of the order of 0.01414 m (14.14 mm). Referring specifically toFIG. 22, the boss 33 is more pronounced than in the previous embodimentsand protrudes upwards of the order of 0.0005 m (0.5 mm) from theabutment surface 14.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 23 to 25, there is shown a number ofviews of the eye part 205 to complement the hook part of FIGS. 19 to 22.The eye part 205 differs in that the dimple 35 is more pronounced tofacilitate reception of the larger boss 33. It is envisaged that thedimple will be of the order of up to 0.0006 m (0.6 mm) deep. Theupstanding lip 26 protrudes upwardly from the substantially planar bodyby approximately 0.001 m (1 mm) and this is deemed advantageous as itprovides an effective means for the wearer to locate the hook in theeye. It is envisaged that the open mouth 23 of the eye part 205 willhave a maximum width of the order of between 0.0215 m (21.5 mm) and0.0245 m (24.5 mm) and in the embodiment shown, the open mouth 23 of theeye part has a maximum width from one extreme side of the open mouth 23to the other extreme side of the open mouth 23 of 0.02298 m (22.98 mm).In this way, the maximum width of the open mouth 23 of the eye part 205is of the order of 1.6 times the width of the outer portion 13 of thehook part 203 and this will facilitate insertion of the hook part 203into the eye part 205. Advantageously, the fastener of FIGS. 19 to 25inclusive has a maximum tensile strength of 13.6 kg (approx. 30 lbs)which provides greater strength than comparable, thicker fasteners andpeace of mind to the wearer.

It will be seen from the foregoing examples, that the hook and eyefasteners according to the embodiments shown have only a single hook asopposed to a plurality of hooks as is common in the known fasteners.This is seen as a highly advantageous aspect of the present invention.Generally speaking, the hook and eye fasteners known in the art comprisea column of two or more hooks and several columns of two or morecorresponding eyes depending on the width of the back of the garment. Insome cases, five or more hooks may be provided aligned in a verticalcolumn. These hooks have to be closed “one by one” which is difficultand cumbersome for the wearer and it is often difficult to align thehooks correctly with the corresponding eyes. As a consequence, the hooksand eyes are often misaligned or the hooks and eyes have to be locatedfirst into the outermost position before the hooks are thereafteradjusted and inserted into the desired correctly fitting position.

In this specification the terms “include, includes, included andincluding” and the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising”are all deemed totally interchangeable and should be afforded the widestpossible interpretation.

The invention is in no way limited to the embodiment hereinbeforedescribed but may be varied in both construction and detail within thescope of the claims.

1) A hook and eye fastener for securing two pieces of a garmenttogether, the fastener having a hook part configured to be mounted on aface of one of the pieces and an eye part configured to be mounted on aface of the other of the pieces, the fastener comprising: the hook partcomprising a substantially planar body configured to be laid flat on theface of the piece and having an arm extending outwardly therefrom, thearm comprising an inner portion connected at one end to the body andextending outwardly substantially perpendicular to the body and an outerportion connected to an other end of the inner portion and extendingsubstantially parallel to the planar body, a side of the outer portionfacing the planar body and defining an abutment surface; and the eyepart comprising a substantially planar frame configured to be laid flaton the face of the other of the pieces, the frame defining an open mouthdimensioned to receive the outer portion of the hook part's arm andhaving a complementary abutment surface on an underside of the frame forengagement of the abutment surface of the hook part; and, when the hookpart is mounted on the piece and the eye part is mounted on the other ofthe pieces, and with the face of the piece and the face of the other ofthe pieces closely juxtaposed, the eye part slidably engageable with thehook part in a direction parallel to the faces to fasten the two piecesof the garment together. 2) The hook and eye fastener as claimed inclaim 1 in which there is provided a boss on one of the abutmentsurfaces and a complementary dimple on the other of the abutmentsurfaces. 3) The hook and eye fastener as claimed in claim 2 in whichthe boss is mounted on the abutment surface of the hook part. 4) Thehook and eye fastener as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer portionis chevron shaped. 5) The hook and eye fastener as claimed in claim 4 inwhich the complementary abutment surface on the underside of the framefor engagement of the abutment surface of the hook part ischevron-shaped. 6) The hook and eye fastener as claimed in claim 1 inwhich the open mouth is pentagonally shaped. 7) The hook and eyefastener as claimed in claim 1 in which the hook part and eye part eachcomprise a magnet for location of the hook part outer portion in theopen mouth of the eye part. 8) The hook and eye fastener as claimed inclaim 7 in which the magnet on the hook part is located on the bodyrearward of the arm and the magnet on the eye part is located in theframe rearward and remote from the abutment surface. 9) The garment asclaimed in claim 22 in which there are provided a plurality of eye partsmounted in a row along the piece of garment. 10) The garment as claimedin claim 22 in which the other of the pieces of the garment comprises apair of sheets of fabric and the eye part is sandwiched between the pairof sheets of fabric. 11) The garment as claimed in claim 22 in which apocket is formed between the abutment surface on the underside of theframe and the face of the piece on which the eye part is mounted. 12)The garment as claimed in claim 22 in which at least one of the piecesis elasticated. 13) The garment as claimed in claim 22 in which there isprovided only one hook. 14) The hook and eye fastener as claimed inclaim 1 in which the eye part further comprises an upstanding lipadjacent the complementary abutment surface. 15) The hook and eyefastener as claimed in claim 14 in which the upstanding lip has a heightof the order of 0.001 m (1.0 mm). 16) The hook and eye fastener asclaimed in claim 1 in which the fastener has a maximum thickness of lessthan 0.0055 m (5.5 mm). 17) The hook and eye fastener as claimed inclaim 1 in which the fastener has a maximum thickness of less than 0.005m (5.0 mm). 18) The hook and eye fastener as claimed in claim 1 in whichthe inner portion of the hook part has at least one rib extendingupwardly from the body to the outer portion along a rear face of theinner portion. 19) The hook and eye fastener as claimed in claim 1 inwhich the maximum width of the open mouth of the eye part is no lessthan 1.5 times the maximum width of the outer portion of the hook part.20) The hook and eye fastener as claimed in claim 1 in which thefastener has a maximum tensile strength of greater than or equal to11.36 kgs. 21) A hook and eye fastener for securing two pieces of agarment together, the fastener having a hook part configured to bemounted on a face of one of the pieces and the eye part configured to bemounted on a face of the other of the pieces, the fastener comprising:the hook part comprising a substantially planar body configured to belaid flat on the face of the piece and having an arm extending outwardlytherefrom, the arm comprising an inner portion connected at one end tothe body and extending outwardly substantially perpendicular to the bodyand a chevron-shaped outer portion connected to the other end of theinner portion and extending substantially parallel to the planar body, aside of the outer portion facing the planar body and defining anabutment surface; the eye part comprising a substantially planar frameconfigured to be laid flat on the face of the other of the pieces, theframe defining a pentagonally-shaped open mouth dimensioned to receivethe outer portion of the hook part's arm and having a chevron-shapedcomplementary abutment surface on an underside of the frame forengagement of the abutment surface of the hook part; when the hook partis mounted on the piece and the eye part is mounted on the other of thepieces, and with the face of the piece and the face of the other of thepieces closely juxtaposed, the eye part slidably engageable with thehook part in a direction parallel to the faces to fasten the two piecesof the garment together; in which there is provided a boss on one of theabutment surfaces and a complementary dimple on the other of theabutment surfaces; and, in which the fastener has a maximum thickness ofless than 0.0055 m (5.5 mm) and a maximum tensile strength of greaterthan or equal to 11.36 kgs. 22) A garment comprising two pieces and ahook and eye fastener for securing the two pieces together, the fastenerhaving a hook part being mounted on a face of one of the pieces and aneye part being mounted on a face of the other of the pieces, thefastener comprising: the hook part comprising a substantially planarbody laid flat on the face of the piece and having an arm extendingoutwardly therefrom, the arm comprising an inner portion connected atone end to the body and extending outwardly substantially perpendicularto the body and an outer portion connected to an other end of the innerportion and extending substantially parallel to the planar body, a sideof the outer portion facing the planar body and defining an abutmentsurface; and the eye part comprising a substantially planar frame laidflat on the face of the other of the pieces, the frame defining an openmouth dimensioned to receive the outer portion of the hook part's armand having a complementary abutment surface on an underside of the framefor engagement of the abutment surface of the hook part; and, with theface of the piece and the face of the other of the pieces closelyjuxtaposed, the eye part slidably engageable with the hook part in adirection parallel to the faces to fasten the two pieces of the garmenttogether. 23) The garment as claimed in claim 22 in which there isprovided a boss on one of the abutment surfaces and a complementarydimple on the other of the abutment surfaces. 24) The garment as claimedin claim 22 in which the hook part and the eye part each comprise amagnet for location of the hook part outer portion in the open mouth ofthe eye part. 25) The garment as claimed in claim 22 in which the innerportion of the hook part has at least one rib extending upwardly fromthe body to the outer portion along a rear face of the inner portion.